THE NEW PUBLIC OFFICIS. The Government several months ago obtained the concurrence of Parliament. to a scheme for the erection of public offices on the spacious and costly foundations laid 15 or 16 years ago in the Treasury reserve, at the rear of the Treasury building. The contemplated structure is intended to accommodate the various departments of the public service which are at present scattered over the eastern and western parts of the city— viz., the Public Works, the Crown Lands, the Crown Law, the Mining, the Water Supply, and the Treasury departments. The erection of one largo building to house, all these different offices will be a great advantage to the public service, and will save a good deal of time and trouble to the persons who* have to do business at them. None will appreciate tho boon more than members of deputations from the country, who, in tho advocacy of their various little wants— a reserve for a common, a grant in aid of a new bridge, tho appointment of Mr. Sm...

THE EIGHT HOURS MOVEMENT AND ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION. The 21st of, April in -each year is celebrated as a day of festivity by the various trades societies in this city. They meet in procession, and pass through the principal thoroughfares of this city, exhibiting the handsome and costly banners which afo engraved in the present number of The Australasian Sketcher, and accompanied by bonds of music, and by cabs an'd other vehicles laden with the female and junior members 6f the families of those who swell the imposing demonstration. The day is spent in the Friendly Societies gardens, a park-like reserve oa the banks of the Yarra, which lias been reserved by the G.ovcrmucnt for the recreation of the members of the' numerous organisations enrolled for charitable and social purposes in Melbourne and its suburbs. In the evening the Theatre Royal is engaged for a special performance by the trades societies, and the profits of the entertainment are generously given to the hospital, or somo ...

BALLARAT. The great inland city and town of Ballarat is governed by two municipal bodies,- the 'Western and more important portion of it by a city council, and the Eastern portion by a town council. Dufe it is not necessary in this brief notice to take this duality of government into account. The separation of the town into two unequal portions is quite arbitrary and artificial, and it is noiv found to be rather a hindrance than a help to its progress. As a whole, Ballarat covers three eminences, and fills up tiny valleys lying between. It abounds in massive and striking, looking buildings in brick and stone, and these arc adapted to the several public and private uses to which urban structures are usually put. On every side of the central portions of the city and town country roads extend, generally lined with the villa residences of the wealthier inhabitants and the snug wooden cottages which are the abodes of the miners and other working men, the inhabitants of these cottages bei...

FREEMASONRY. We are informed that the memorial to .which- we gave some prominence in our last number is being numerously signed by members of the craft in this city. In due timo, and in proper hands, it is to be submitted to all who have seen the Light . throughout the country. We quoted the preamble of the instrument, which will most likely become historical, in our previous issue, and from this it will be seen that it is upon the expressed wish of the individual brethren that the movement is to be carried to an issue. No lodge of Masons — no District or . Provincial Grand Lodge — is ap pealed to, for reasons which will be at onco recognised by thoso who understand the qitestion — and tho process of gaining the generally expressed will of the brethren in this country must necessarily occupy some time. In tho mean while that process is going on, and we keep note of it. Hitherto we havo heard no sound of dissent from any quarter,; but, on tho other hand, we know that the first step w...

WILKIE, WEBSTER, AND ALLAN, Importers of MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC, 13 and 15 COLLINS-STREET EAST, MELBOUBNE. WHOLESALE'STORE— QUEEN-STREET. (Established 1850.) GRAND AND COTTAGE PIANOFORTES. In all the newest and most elegant models, by the most celebrated ENGLISH, FRENCH, and GERMAN MAKERS. . All the eminent musicians who have visited this colony have pronounced our superb Btock to bo surpassed in extent and variety by few houses, even in Europe. CHURCH ORGANS. W1LK1E, WEBSTER, and ALLAN having entered into arrangements with several of tho best manufacturers in England and tho Continent, are prepared to IMPORT ORGANS on unusually LIBERAL TERMS, and as a guarantee for the faithful fulfilment of any orders entrusted to their care, they would respectfully call attention to the beautiful instruments which have been imported and erected by them at St. Paul's, Ballarat (built by Walker, of London); Christ Chi'hcii, SorTii Yahra (by Hill, of London) ; and also to the noble instrument...

f^. BORGE ROBERTSON, BOOK IMPORTER, And MANUFACTURING STATIONER, ?NEW WARErfOUSES, WHOLESALE and RETAIL, 33 and 35 LITTLE COLLINS-STREET WEST, MELBOURNE. GEORGE ROBERTSON'S MONTHLY BOOK CIRCULAR Contains the full title, description, and price of all the NEW PUBLICATIONS Which have arrived in the colony during the month. ? May be had GRATIS on application. ' | ? SAMUEL MULLEN, Importer of BOOKS and STATIONERY. New and popular books in all departments of litera ture. Standard works in the French, German, and Italian languages. Educational works, a catalogue of which may be had on application. Books for presents, juvenile books, church services and praj-er books. . Do La Rue's note paper — stamping with ? monograms at the shortest notice. Mourning note paper and envelopes. Jctoline — the favourite marking ink— Is. per bottle. SAMUEL MULLEN, 55 COLLINS-STREET EAST, MELBOURNE. GEORGE SHORT, BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, MUS1CSELLER, &amp;c. Printing and Bookbinding Neatly Executed. Magazine...

' A MADMAN AT SEA. An extraordinary occurrence was reported on the arrival of the' barque Hannah Nicholson, which put into Portland Bay from the Mauritius on May 7. Tho first mate (Mr. Anderson) said that on the 2nd of May Captain Leask complained to him that the crow had a design on his life, and when informed that such was not the. case lie complained- of his head, ? and went and locked hitnsctt in his cabin. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon ho went to the second mate, and threatened to kill any person that would come in his way, and shortly after the alarm was given, when tho captain, armed with a revolver, made his way on deck, , and commenced firing at- tho man at the wheel, who very narrowly escaped. After firing a number of shots ho dived into tho cabin, and as all the firearms and ammunition wero stored below, ns well as the provisions, the cap tain took com mand of tho whole, thus cutting off tho crew, and when any attempt wns made to got at tho provisions, Leask, who was e...

MASSACRE OF EIGHTEEN MEN AT NEW GUINEA. Intelligence has reached us of a shocking massacre — that of the mate and 17 seamen of the brigantine Franz — by natives of New Guinea. In July, 1872, the Franz sailed from Sydney on a pearl-shelling voyage in Torres Straits, and in November, when the vessel was anchored off Soran Island, two boats were sent away to 'prospect' for pearl shell. These were manned by 17 seamen, and were in charge of the mate, Henry Schleuter. On December 7, the boats being overdue, the captain sent another boat to look for them ; but, failing to find them, he went to Sallawatty, when he heard his boats had called, but received there no tidings of the fate of the missing men. The Rajah told him that the boats had been there, and on leaving he warned the men to take care of the natives. He promised to go out and see what had become of them, bTit would not allow the captain to accompany him, as he said he did not wish the natives to observe white men in the boats. H...

THE DEMONSTRATION OP THE FIRE BRIGADES. — THE TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION AND THE REVIEW. ? We have an~ article olse where describing thosq interest ing events, which, have depicted in. the pages devoted to illustrations. ? ? ' THE EIGHT HOURS CELEBRATION. ? THE BANNERS OF THE TRADES. - Amongst the most noticeable features of the procession of the trades which passes through Melbourno on the annual celebration of the successful ending of the eight hours movement are the large painted banners which are carried at the head of the various trades. These all give illus trative or symbolical designs connected with the handi ' craft they represent. We have them all drawn and grouped in one plate, and we have in another column an article on the subject of the eight hours movement and its anniversary celebrations. THE REV. THOMAS WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE AUS TRALASIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE. The president of the Australasian Wesloyan Methodist Conference for the year 1873 is the Rev. Tho...

SINGULAR SUICIDE. &amp;nbsp; A strange suicide took place at Kew on May 6, when Mr. Frederick Edward Walter committed self-destruction by taking strychnine. The deceased was engaged as bookkeeper to the firm of John Sanderson and Co., wool merchants, of this city. The deceased was arrested on the 2nd May, on a charge of embezzle- ment. He was brought before the City Police Court and remanded until the 7th, bail being allowed in two sureties of £1,000 each. Since his arrest he and his wife had been living at Williamstown. On May 6 he went to his residence at Kew, and after taking lunch went upstairs to his bedroom about half-past 3 o'clock, saying he was going to lie down. About 5 o'clock the Rev. R. Appleton called to see him, when he was found lying on his bed quite dead ; close beside him was a tumbler containing a mixture of sugar and strychnine. He had exhibited the greatest power of will, for though the effect of strychnine is known to cause the greatest agony and contortio...

Racing at this time of year is almost a dead letter, although a few owners of horses and bookmakers havo betaken themselves to Adelaide, tho May meeting at which place was postponed owing to rain to Monday, the 26th of May. On the first day tho attendance was very good, but the course was heavy from the rains. The Fly ing Handicap was won by My Lady, beating six others. The St. Leger Stakes wero won by Mr. Holland's brown colt Calabar, Signet second, and Queen of the Soiith third. Mr. Gerrard won the Two-year-old Stakes with Echo ; and the Governor's Cup was carried off very easily by the Victorian horse Nimblefobt, Newbold second, and Mr. Ryan's fine horse, Tho Ace, third. Mr. William Filgate was nonsuited in his action for libel against the Australian Jockey Club. It seems to be law that a man may be proclaimed a defaulter to the world, but that he hap, no remedy, as' it is regarded in the light of a privileged communication. This is rather hard lines for Mr. Filgate, who is a def...

THE FIRE BRIGADES' DEMONSTRATION. Cheat praise is undoubtedly due to the mind which conceived the idea of holding a general review of the fire brigades of tho colony. The idea had several good effects. It gave to the people of Melbourne a sight of a novel and most interesting character. It is long since so picturesque a spectacle has been witnessed in the streets of Melbourne as that of the serpentine line of fire which wound through them on the night of May 26, blazing with fireworks, resounding with music, and hemmed in on both sides by a dense crowd of spectators. And then there was this other beneficial consequence : the demonstration was admirably calculated 'to popularise the institution. It must tend to enlist volunteers in .the various bodies tokce the brilliant appearance they form in a public celebration such as that of the occasion referred to, while the sight of the activity and skill exhibited by the men in the review hekV on the following day had the effect of putting ...

^^QM^Jma^^B The Duke of Genoa landed at Hobart Town on May 20. Mr. John Stuart Mill died on May 10. The shearers at Winchelsea contemplate a strike. Bull, the hangman of Sydney, has died. A native bear, perfectly white, has been found in Mepunga. The electric telegraph has been extended to Leigh-road. The Grant and Polwarth Coursing Club has been formed. The Warrnambool Steam Navigation Company has declared a dividend of 6 per cent. A recent report of a white woman being found amongst the blacks at Keppel Bay is now said to be 'a hoax.' &amp;nbsp; The disease known as 'black leg' has appeared amongst cattle near Sale, Gipps Land. Forty inches of rain fell at the Roper River between November and April. &amp;nbsp; Shale from Loutit Bay has been tried for the manufacture of gas by the Geelong Gas Company. Mr. Finch, sergeant-at-arms of the Sydney Legislative As- sembly, died suddenly on May 7. Madame Arabella Goddard was a passenger to Melbourne by the Baroda. An incendiary att...

COACH TRAVELLING IN VICTORIA. Travelling by coach over the unformed, or partly-formed, roads of the thinly settled districts of the colony has recently been graphically described by a contributor to The Argus, narrating a visit to Gipps Land. Persons, at home, whose recollections associate coach travelling along the smooth roads of England with all that is pleasant, would read with surprise and amusement the shape it assumes upon the rough roads of a new country. The writer says : — &amp;nbsp; 'One of the peculiarities about the Gipps Land road (as Artemus Ward would say, the word 'road' is 'rote sarkastic') is that it presents to the shuddering gaze of those who use it every objectionable feature which ever has been, is, or could possibly be hereafter connected with public highways. Tra- versing tho shire of Oakleigh one has an opportunity of seeing how bad a formed and metalled road way may become by neglect. The authorities in this part of the world appear to be comical gentl...

pftjffiriaiitiiBWs M»tatMlt| iittlUtfltlKliKWHHHIHHIIHt{{|}j JIM MiSWftotHaiH ttia We have Been the wind-up of a very good season of Italian Opera here. The prices wero low, and the general standard of performance was quite the reverse. There is a good deal of reason why people hero should bo satisfied with what they have seen ana neara — not because it was perfect in itself, but for the reason that many places of higher pre tensions than Melbourne havo not dono quite so well in opera as we have here. In London, it seems that Bellini and Donizetti hold principal place. Verdi's hackneyed works have also had representation, but his later efforts in composition are unknown ; his 'Aida' lias not yet been performed there. We here, in ? Melbourne, -have had Bellini and Donizetti to at least as full an extent as they have had in London, and wo may console ourselves with the , reflection that we have had Rossini well represented also. We have had ' II Barbiere' and -f'Mose inEgitto' done in...

BOWEfc BIRDS' BOWERS AND TROPICAL ANTS' NESTS. We here depict two. noticeable specimens of , the architecture of two widely-separated members of the animal kingdom. found in Australia, the bower of the Bower Bird and the nest of the White ? Ant. The former of these is, perhaps, the most sin gular structure built by any animal, not so much on account of its construction as for the object for which it is made. It is not built for a nest, , for a residence, or for a lair. ?? it, is merely built for purposes of amusement, and is decorated with ' brilliant objects, the more especially, to mark its ' character and to fit it for its purpose. ' The bird is of very, glossy plumage, ?? deep purple in hue, and while building it utters a curious deep and. rather resonant note. The Rev. J. G. Wood, in ? his interesting work; . Homes Without Hands', thus describes the manner in which the bird builds its bower : — ' It begins by weaving . in tolerably firm platform of small twigs, which looks as i...